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Forecast for Milton -- Fair to Fiddlin'

Jul. 26, 2013 @ 12:00 AM

Since 1983, the Cabell County Fair has been a family tradition for many. This year it's bigger than ever out in the carnival- and fun-filled fields beyond the covered bridge at West Virginia Pumpkin Park in Milton.

Gates opened Monday and the fair action builds into the weekend.

Here's a look at just a few of the highlights for the fair whose gates close at 11 p.m. nightly.

Friday: The local group 4 Mile will be playing at 7 and 9 p.m., and a tractor pull at 7 p.m. as well as the 4-H/FFA Livestock sales.

Saturday: The fair ends with a bang, literally. The big car demolition derby is at 7:30 p.m., as well as the hot country duo (Joshua Scott Jones and Meghan Linsey), known as Steel Magnolia at 8:30 p.m. The Big Machine Records recording artists have opened up for such acts as Blake Shelton and Brad Paisley, and have chalked up such hit singles as "Just By Being You (Halo and Wings)," "Late Night Again."

For even more fair coverage of fairs around the region, including this week's Boyd County Fair, go online at www.herald-dispatch.com where you can access schedules and more information.

FRIDAY, JULY 26

A Hot Summer Night's Musical Dream

West Virginia's only amusement park marches on after a fire last weekend took out the Dodge'em Cars.

The family-run park continues its Hot Summer Nights Concert Series that features Asheville, N.C.-based music man, Woody Pines, who plays upbeat music from the 1920s and 1930s, a time when jazz, country blues, ragtime and string band music could all be heard in the river towns of the South.

Woody Pines, which also throws in modern bluegrass and rockabilly, will play at 7 and 8:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, July 25 and 26. The park offers extended hours from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on all concert nights. The park offers Starlight prices (from 5 to 10 p.m.) for $10.99 on the concert nights.

Camden Park features more than 30 rides and attractions, including the latest, a pendulum ride called The Rattler. For more information on this and other upcoming events at Camden Park, go online at www.camdenpark.com or call 1-866-8CAMDEN.

FRIDAY, JULY 26

Party like a pioneer

You can party like its 1789 this weekend. Experience what Kentucky was like more than 200 years ago as re-enactors from around the country make their way to Carter Caves State Resort Park, daily through Sunday, July 28 for the 22nd annual Pioneer Life Week.

The pioneer encampment near the park campground is open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 28. Some of the programs include tomahawk throwing, black powder rifle demonstrations, flint knapping, spinning and weaving demonstrations, primitive fire making and more. Don't miss the chance to cool off with a lantern tour of Saltpeter Cave as well.

On Saturday, July 27, get a taste of county fairs the old-fashioned way during Country Fair Day that will feature old farm tools and machinery, woodcarving, seed spitting, pottery making, pioneer toys, flute music, a pie auction and a free ice cream social at 4 p.m.

During the week, the restaurant will have a "Buffalo Buffet" including buffalo ribs and roast on Friday, July 26. For more information, call the park at 1-800-325-0059 or 1-606-286-4411.

SATURDAY, JULY 27

Three Huntington ladies, three awesome books

In the past year, three well-respected Huntington female writers have unleashed some of their best work and have been reeling in rave reviews and piling up book sales around the country.

These three literary superfriends unite come Saturday with a reading and signing from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the River and Rail Bakery at Heritage Station in downtown Huntington.

Reading and signing will be Laura Treacy Bentley, who is out with her new book, "The Silver Tattoo," Marie Manilla, who is out with "Shrapnel," and Sheila Redling who just released "Damocles."

While at Heritage Station, check out such shops as Bottle and Wedge, The Wild Ramp, Brand Yourself, Let's Eat, Brown Dog Yoga, SIP Wine Bar and Finds and Designs.

SUNDAY, JULY 28

Last call for Huntington Outdoor Theatre's 'Hairspray'

The hills are alive with the rock 'n' roll sounds of "Hairspray," but not for long.

The clock is ticking and there's now only one weekend left to see Huntington Outdoor Theatre which is in its 20th and final year.

H.O.T. pops the cap on the campy dance-fevered musical, "Hairspray," which lights up Ritter Park at 8:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday, July 26-28.

Get there early as gates open at 6:30 p.m. for picnicking. The children's pre-show, "Disney Extravaganza!" and the community pre-show begin at 7 p.m. Bring lawn chairs or blankets, cooler, etc.

Performing this week for the pre-show will be former H.O.T. alums as well as some area barbershop quartet music. Admission is $15 and $13 for seniors (65+) and kids (5-12). Kids ages 5 and younger are free. Groups of 20 tickets or more are $12 per ticket.

Sign ups are now for a slew of cool glass-making classes that will be part of the sixth annual Festival of Glass that runs Aug. 2-3 out at the world-famous Blenko Glass in Milton.

There are 16 classes that range from glass painting (for ages 3 and up) to a glass blowing workshop. Come out and make everything from mosaics to mini water bottles and more.

Space is limited and will fill up fast. All payments must be received by Wednesday, July 31.

Contact Tammy McDonald at 877-425-3656 to reserve a spot, and go online at www.blenkoglass.com to see a full schedule of events for the festival that includes guided factory tours, glass blowing demonstrations, signings, special sales and vendors on site.

TUESDAY, JULY 30

Head to the heart of Ashland for readers group

Book discussion groups are always a good time and one of the Tri-State's regular public book groups, The Regional Readers' Book Group, meets at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 30, at the Jesse Stuart Foundation, located at 1645 Winchester Ave., Ashland.

July's featured selection is "One Foot in Eden" by Ron Rash, in which Sheriff Will Alexander knows that someone has murdered local thug, Holland Winchester; however, he's missing the body and a witness. The book is available at the Jesse Stuart Foundation Bookstore. It is $9 for regional readers, or online at jsfbooks.com. The book group is open to all and new members are always welcome.

The Jesse Stuart Foundation, which owns and manages the rights to Stuart's published and unpublished literary works, is currently reprinting many of his best out-of-print books, along with other books that focus on Kentucky and Appalachia.

The Jesse Stuart Foundation Bookstore is open Monday through Friday and can be found online at jsfbooks.com. Contact at 606-326-1667 or email at jsf@jsfbooks.com.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 31

Catch a movie classic at the library

Started earlier this year by Cabell County Public Library worker, Jesse Riggs, The Orpheum Project is a 16-mm film series that has been offering free classic movie screenings at the library, 455 9th St., Huntington.

At 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 31, they put on a reel of top shelf American cinema with the Oscar award-winning film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," which cleaned up at the Oscars winning Best Leading Actor, Best Director, Best Picture, and Best Leading Actress Louise Fletcher, the notorious Nurse Ratched.

"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" is Milos Foreman's memorable adaptation of LSD shaman Ken Kesey's psychedelic allegory of expanded consciousness. In the company of Christopher Lloyd and Danny DeVito, Nicholson's established Easy Rider character of marginalized burnout has a few competitors, but the real breakout star is Huntington's native son, Brad Dourif who earned an Academy Award nomination for his role as Billy Bibbit, although he missed the broom in the Oscar sweep of awards in 1976.

The film will be shown on the library's fourth floor in the Friend's Story Room. The showing is free and open to the public. Cracker Jacks and water will be available. Go online at www.cabell.lib.wv.us for more info.